Motive® directional drilling

Bit Guidance System

The MOTIVE® Bit Guidance System is the industry’s first use of cognitive computing to guide the directional drilling process. This algorithm-driven system considers the total economic consequences of directional drilling decisions and has proven to consistently improve the driller’s ability to reduce the average drilling time, to reduce risk associated with excess tortuosity, and to increase the hydrocarbon production potential of the completed well through better accuracy.

The MOTIVE® Bit Guidance System runs on a Class 1-Div 2 industrial computer deployed on the rig and can run on its own with no external connectivity. The system is easily deployed and receives real-time drilling and trajectory data using a standard WITS0 connection. Wireless connectivity is provided between the system, the rig floor, the company man, and others on location, while visibility of all directional drilling activity is also delivered offsite by 2D/3D browser-based and i-Pad visualization interfaces.

At the core of the guidance system’s value-added functionality is the initiation of an automated decision-making process. At each survey station, the system instantly and automatically analyzes millions of possible options for adjusting the well path back to plan. Each path is evaluated according to three primary costs: its predicted drilling time, added risk due to predicted tortuosity, and possible reduction in the ultimate hydrocarbon production potential.

At each survey station, the guidance system instantly evaluates millions of potential paths to get back to plan, and determines the optimal choice based on drilling time, tortuosity risk, and future hydrocarbon production potential.

This predictive cost analysis applies dynamically determined parameters such as geo-drift (rotary walk and build), effective motor yield, motor potential, estimate of the current position of the bit, and individual driller performance. Ultimate control remains with the operator, as he is able to set limits on dogleg severity, anti-collision, distance to lease lines,deviation in trajectory, azimuth, or distance from plan, and much more. Cost curves are utilized to apply proportional penalties for these limits and to other factors such as estimated hydrocarbon production based on distance from the target trajectory.

This predictive cost analysis applies dynamically determined parameters such as geo-drift (rotary walk and build), effective motor yield, motor potential, estimate of the current position of the bit, and individual driller performance.

Ultimate control remains with the operator, as he is able to set parameters such as limits on dogleg severity, anti-collision rules, acceptable deviations from planned inclination and azimuth, distance to lease lines, and much more.

Cost curves are utilized to apply proportional penalties for these limits and to other factors such as distance from the pay zone, or deviation in trajectory, azimuth, or distance from plan.

Dynamic well planning uses costing functions, which allows the directional driller some leeway in certain directions, and tighter control in directions where the cost of error is greater. These functions afford much greater control of the directional drilling decisions. The costing function can vary based on deviations from the plan in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions.

By setting parameters according to a particular region, the operator can ensure that the decisions being made on the rig site are in line with the drilling cost and production tradeoffs that the operator and asset manager see, rather than purely at the individual directional driller’s discretion. The results are higher production yields, higher consistency of execution, fewer tool failures, and enhanced overall economics.

Once the system determines the optimal path, it provides the driller with simple, intuitive, detailed directions on how to follow that path. Specific turn-by-turn navigation instructions are provided to the driller on the rig floor, using either an intuitive browser-based or iPad interface. The guidance system provides the driller with the required tool face orientation, along with the depths to begin and end each slide or rotate sequence.

The intuitive interface shows the driller exactly where the bit is in relation to the plan, and provides performance feedback and turn-by-turn navigation instructions.

The Bit Guidance System also monitors the performance of the directional driller compared to the dynamic plan. Based on this real-time assessment of his performance, the Bit Guidance System adjusts its instructions to the driller in real-time in much the same way that a GPS navigation system recalculates its directions based on the actual location of the driver.

The MOTIVE® Bit Guidance System keeps the entire decision-making team (both on the rig and remotely) informed about past, current, and future planned directional drilling activities through its distributed 2D and 3D visualization interfaces, dynamic reporting, and automated email and text notifications.

By providing completed directional drilling transparency to the entire team regardless of location, the system continuously returns operational control back to the operator.

Multiple wells can be monitored and guided from the MOTIVE® Directional Drilling Command Center or from an operator’s in-house command center, enabling a single experienced directional driller to simultaneously steer multiple wells. Without the assistance of machine intelligence, there is an undeniable loss in oversight and performance when the the attention of even the most experienced command center directional driller is divided between multiple wells.

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We’ve combined decades of industry experience with superior technology to create the energy industry’s premier Bit Guidance System, and we’re eager to discuss how we can improve YOUR operations … Whether you’re a current customer needing support,or you’d like to find out even more, please get in touch by completing the form below.